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Enlisted between February 25 and October 14, 1777. From the General Treasurer's Accounts, 1761-1781. Alphabet Book No. 6, following Alphabet for 1778. (Ms. in Rhode Island State Library, Providence.) As cited in Lorenzo J. Greene, "Some Observations on the Black Regiment of Rhode Island in the American Revolution," The Journal of Negro History, Vol. 37, No. 2 (Apr. 1952), 142-172.

Tags show in which town, and in which month, each person enlisted.

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"Liberty is given to every effective slave to enter the service during the war; and upon his passing muster, he is absolutely made free, and entitled to all the wages, bounties and encouragements given by Congress to any soldier enlisting into their service. The masters are compensated, allowed at the rate of £120 for the most valuable slave; and in proportion for those of less value." (Governor Cooke Rhode Island to General Washington, Providence, February 23, 1778, cited in Williams, History of the Negro Race in America, 1883, and in Lorenzo Greene, citation above)

Both armies (British and American) used black and Native American troops in addition to white. Black troops fought in the Revolutionary War from day one—even earlier if you consider Crispus Attucks—but thousands more fought with, and fled to, the British army.

"In the first months of the war British and Tory writers had poked fun at the complexion of the American army in jingles like the following:

The rebel clowns, oh! what a sightToo awkward was their figure'Twas yonder stood a pious wightAnd here and there a n_____r."(p. 154, article cited above in list description)